WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT? WHAT ARE THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING HIS WILL? WHAT THERORIES ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THOSE CONTROVERSIES? Answer prepared by: Ben Zwief
Shakespeare’s Last Will and Testament is a document that decided which of Shakespeare’s loved ones would get what part of his property when he died. Almost all of his property went to family and close friends, but then his wife, who could be considered one his closest family members, received only a very small and insignificant portion of his wealth.
Shakespeare’s will was very lopsided and controversial. Shakespeare willed his daughter, Judith, money for marriage and even more money if she renounced her claims in Chapel Lane cottage. Shakespeare didn’t think well of her husband Thomas Quiney so he didn’t want Judith getting anything that might fall into his hands, nearby New Place; in addition he left her a silver bowl and four properties including New Place. To his sister, Joan, Shakespeare left a little money and permitted her to stay in one of his houses for minimal rent. To his nephews, Joan’s sons, he left £five, £one is one pound of silver, or about six dollars and fifty cents. To his granddaughter Elizabeth, Shakespeare left all his silver-plating except for the bowl that was given to Judith. To the poor of Stratford, Shakespeare’s hometown, he gave a small sum of money. But curiously the only thing he gave to his wife, Anne Hathaway was his “second best bed” according to Alchin, L.K. author of the online article, “The Last Will & Testament of William Shakespeare” on the website William Shakespeare Info. The Last Will and Testament of William Shakespeare. Lastly, states Alchin, his other daughter Susana claimed all the other “household stuff whatsoever after my debts and legacies paid and my funeral expenses discarded.” Which was anything leftover after all his debts and other expenses were paid off Shakespeare also left his friends money to continue the tradition of buying rings. These rings were memorial rings of their friend and most people of that time did this.
Shakespeare’s Last Will and Testament is controversial because of the fact that he only left his “second best bed” to his wife, Anne. Shakespeare may or may not have realized that the English Common Law gave Anne, as his wife, the right to one-third of his estate and a lifelong home at New Place (this departure from English Common Law) has led to many assumptions about the state of Shakespeare and Anne’s marriage. Some people believe that near the end of his life, Shakespeare and his wife did not get along. Yet others suppose that there was no need to mention her receiving one-third of his estate in the will because it was written in the law. Also, some presume that it was have been a romantic gesture from Shakespeare to his wife. Either way, it is quite strange that he only specifically mentioned that Anne should receive his “second best bed” in his will.
William Shakespeare left yet another unsolved mystery of his life in his will. Why did his daughter Susana get almost everything he owned? Did he trust her husband, John Hall, more so than anyone else? Shakespeare left his family everything and then gave his wife next to nothing.
Bibliography Alchin, L.K. "The Last Will & Testament of William Shakespeare ." William Shakespeare info. N.p., 2005. Web. 26 Mar 2010. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-the-will.htm>. Campbell, Oscar James, and Edward G. Quinn. The Reader's Encyclopedia of Shakespeare. New York City, New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1966. Print. Epstein, Norrie. The Freindly Shakespeare: A Thoroughly Painless Guide To the Best of the Bard. New York City, New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print. Marvel, Laura. William Shakespeare: People Who Made History. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Print. Payne, Robert. By Me, William Shakespeare. New York City, New York: Everest House, 1980. Print. Quennell, Peter. Shakespeare a Biography. Cleveland, Ohio: The World Publishing Company, 1963. Print. Rowse, A. L. William Shakespeare: A Biography. New York City, New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1963. Print. Wells, Stanley. Shakespeare An Illustrated Dictionary. London, Great Britain: Kaye & Ward Ltd, 1978. Print.
Answer prepared by: Ben Zwief
Shakespeare’s Last Will and Testament is a document that decided which of Shakespeare’s loved ones would get what part of his property when he died. Almost all of his property went to family and close friends, but then his wife, who could be considered one his closest family members, received only a very small and insignificant portion of his wealth.
Shakespeare’s will was very lopsided and controversial. Shakespeare willed his daughter, Judith, money for marriage and even more money if she renounced her claims in Chapel Lane cottage. Shakespeare didn’t think well of her husband Thomas Quiney so he didn’t want Judith getting anything that might fall into his hands, nearby New Place; in addition he left her a silver bowl and four properties including New Place. To his sister, Joan, Shakespeare left a little money and permitted her to stay in one of his houses for minimal rent. To his nephews, Joan’s sons, he left £five, £one is one pound of silver, or about six dollars and fifty cents. To his granddaughter Elizabeth, Shakespeare left all his silver-plating except for the bowl that was given to Judith. To the poor of Stratford, Shakespeare’s hometown, he gave a small sum of money. But curiously the only thing he gave to his wife, Anne Hathaway was his “second best bed” according to Alchin, L.K. author of the online article, “The Last Will & Testament of William Shakespeare” on the website William Shakespeare Info. The Last Will and Testament of William Shakespeare. Lastly, states Alchin, his other daughter Susana claimed all the other “household stuff whatsoever after my debts and legacies paid and my funeral expenses discarded.” Which was anything leftover after all his debts and other expenses were paid off Shakespeare also left his friends money to
Shakespeare’s Last Will and Testament is controversial because of the fact that he only left his “second best bed” to his wife, Anne. Shakespeare may or may not have realized that the English Common Law gave Anne, as his wife, the right to one-third of his estate and a lifelong home at New Place (this departure from English Common Law) has led to many assumptions about the state of Shakespeare and Anne’s marriage. Some people believe that near the end of his life, Shakespeare and his wife did not get along. Yet others suppose that there was no need to mention her receiving one-third of his estate in the will because it was written in the law. Also, some presume that it was have been a romantic gesture from Shakespeare to his wife. Either way, it is quite strange that he only specifically mentioned that Anne should receive his “second best bed” in his will.
William Shakespeare left yet another unsolved mystery of his life in his will. Why did his daughter Susana get almost everything he owned? Did he trust her husband, John Hall, more so than anyone else? Shakespeare left his family everything and then gave his wife next to nothing.
Bibliography
Alchin, L.K. "The Last Will & Testament of William Shakespeare ." William Shakespeare info. N.p., 2005. Web. 26 Mar 2010. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-the-will.htm>.
Campbell, Oscar James, and Edward G. Quinn. The Reader's Encyclopedia of Shakespeare. New York City, New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1966. Print.
Epstein, Norrie. The Freindly Shakespeare: A Thoroughly Painless Guide To the Best of the Bard. New York City, New York: Penguin Group, 1993. Print.
Marvel, Laura. William Shakespeare: People Who Made History. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Print.
Payne, Robert. By Me, William Shakespeare. New York City, New York: Everest House, 1980. Print.
Quennell, Peter. Shakespeare a Biography. Cleveland, Ohio: The World Publishing Company, 1963. Print.
Rowse, A. L. William Shakespeare: A Biography. New York City, New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1963. Print.
Wells, Stanley. Shakespeare An Illustrated Dictionary. London, Great Britain: Kaye & Ward Ltd, 1978. Print.
Here is a video explaining Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament
http://www.youtube.com/v/eQdFLcyE9Ao&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00